System and method of enhancing a lead exchange process

ABSTRACT

A system and method of enhancing the lead exchange process simultaneously and in real-time calculates a quality index of a lead or plurality of leads within the lead exchange process. The quality index provide a measure of the quality of the leads with the lead exchange process. The calculations are done electronically by a computer system and are based on differences to the mean, allowing for relative indices, which permit the use in a dynamic environment.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a system and method of enhancing a lead exchange process. In particular, the method simultaneously and in real-time calculates a quality index, and thus quality measure, of a lead or plurality of leads within the lead exchange process.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Businesses, or other commercial entities, that sell products and/or services may acquire information regarding potential customers, clients or business associates from several sources. For example, information regarding a potential customer, client or business associate, referred to herein as a “lead,” may be shared among related businesses. Alternatively, leads may be acquired through marketing efforts by the business, such as radio advertisements, Internet advertising or seminars where lists of leads are produced through the marketing efforts. Additionally, leads may be acquired from other sources, such as, but not limited to, newspapers, magazines, trade journals and/or websites. Leads may be acquired in any of these manners, or in other manners, by lead brokers that specialize in compiling leads and selling the leads to other entities. Thus, leads may be acquired from various sources.

The information included in a lead commonly includes contact information regarding the potential customer, such as a telephone number, residential address and/or email address. However, depending on the source of the lead, this contact information may be incomplete or incorrect, thus making the task of contacting the lead difficult. For example, if a lead does not include a telephone number or includes an incorrect telephone number for the potential customer, the business may need to do further research locating the correct phone number or may not be able to contact the potential customer. If the contact information is missing or incorrect in a lead, the business potentially loses not only costs associated with acquiring the lead, but also costs associated with attempting to contact the lead and/or researching the correct contact information for the lead.

Depending on the source of leads, a lead list may comprise one or more leads that include information that does not accurately correspond with the potential customer. For example, businesses or lead brokers may acquire leads through marketing efforts wherein a potential customer provides contact information in exchange for free or discounted products or services. However, potential customers often realize that by providing their contact information, there is a possibility that later communications from the business, lead broker or other entity to which the contact information is sold may be received. Accordingly, if a potential customer does not want to risk any subsequent contacts, the potential customer may provide a false name, address and/or other contact information to the business or lead broker. Alternatively, the potential customer may not provide any telephone, address and/or other contact information. Accordingly, leads comprising this missing and/or inaccurate information do not provide the business using the lead with information that allows them to contact the potential customer and, thus, are of little or no value to the business.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,271,313 discloses a system and method of enhancing leads by determining propensity scores. The patent discloses a method in which a client transmits one or more lead records to a lead enhancement module that is configured to enhance the received lead records and return enhanced lead records to the client. The lead enhancement module may return a contactability score for each lead record, indicating a likelihood that the individual identified in the lead may be contacted using the contact information provided in the lead record and/or additional contract information located by the lead enhancement module. The lead enhancement module may also receive additional data items associated with leads from one or more data sources. Additionally, statistical models that may be customized for each client may be applied to information associated with lead records in order to determine one or more propensity scores for each of the lead records, where a propensity score indicates a likelihood that an individual will take a particular action, such as purchasing particular goods or services.

While such lead enhancement is beneficial, it is time consuming to enhance a large batch of leads, and it is cumbersome to modify to provide targeted and specific results which are beneficial to the client. It would therefore be beneficial to provide a system and method of enhancing a lead exchange process which, in real-time, calculates a quality index, and thus quality measure, of a lead or plurality of leads within the lead exchange process, thereby enhancing the quality of the leads supplied to the customer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment is directed to a mechanism, system and method which simultaneously and in real-time calculate a quality index, and thus quality measure, based on aspects which are important to the lead generation process. These aspects include, but are not limited to, the offering publishers, the lead itself, the lead buyers, the brokers and the separate verticals.

The invention does not focus on a single lead but on the whole lead process from start to end.

The quality index calculation is based on differences to the mean (i.e. relative values, not absolute values). Using the relative values allows the invention to quickly and accurately function in an ever changing and highly dynamic marketplace.

The invention allows for process monitoring, control and an optimal match of sources or origins of leads and generating large quantities of leads to destinations (such as buyers of the leads) while simultaneously registering the quality of each individual lead.

In various embodiments, pluggable sub-processes are used to perform lead validation, enhancement and augmentation activities. The system receives the result of these sub-processes and attaches and calculates a value to a corresponding parameter that is used by the system algorithms to calculate the quality indices for the different aspects.

The number and nature of sub-processes is transparent to the invention and unlimited by design. It is the combination of the defined calculation, the weight factor and the value of the resulting parameters that determines the actual influence on the resulting quality indices.

The system is configured to allow various present and future influencing parameters to be added to the calculation and their impact on the indices can be configured without changing the system itself. The invention is thus fully adaptable and extensible.

To achieve the above, a non-linear algorithm gets or retrieves input for a number of different parameters. In one illustrative embodiment, approximately 100 direct and deduced parameters are implemented. These parameters are grouped into categories, such as, but not limited to: statistical data, feedback data, operational data and probability data.

Each parameter has its own weight within the algorithm and its own basic calculation formula. Various parameters may be built from multiple sub-parameters. For example, in one illustrative embodiment, the name and address verification score is one parameter but incorporates the first name, last name, address, zip code, etc. from various sub-parameters.

All parameters in all categories are calculated for all main aspects simultaneously, as far as they are applicable. These parameters may be derived from different sources, both internal and external. Examples of illustrative embodiments include, but are not limited to:

-   -   User behavior through operational data points: matching of         location and current address, session length, click listings to         measure the intent of the user, etc.     -   Probability data points: demographics, lifestyle parameters,         etc.     -   Data verification: contact data verification and augmentation         through sub-processes fully integrated within the system.     -   Feedback scoring: real time processing of return data from         connected buyers. Different return reasons are handled         differently in the scoring.     -   Automation: having buyers matched to the best sources by         automating the matching of the buyer with top performing         sources.

The number of parameters may increase over time as more measurement points become available and insight into the exact nature of the business enhances. These parameters are evaluated differently per vertical to closely adapt to the specifics of the segmented marketplace. In various illustrative embodiments, based on the nature of the lead exchange process relevant statistical data may range up to 40 days. Relevant historical data may range up to 90 days. Older data is less likely to be of interest due to the fast changing market.

Given hundreds of thousands of leads, thousands of publishers, buyers and brokers and hundreds of verticals, the invention is internally designed to process data in an incremental fashion. It is simply not possible to recalculate millions and millions of data points in real-time.

An embodiment is directed to a model, system and method to achieve real-time calculations and results. Input parameters are organized in cells. Every cell has its own input parameter, weight and algorithm. By the nature of the process cells can all differ in type weight and severity. Cells are organized in arrays of cells, like a row, with the dominant (or first) cell of the array holding the algorithm and values tying the cells in the array. The rows are again organized in columns, effectively creating a matrix. The dominant row (or first) row holding the algorithm and values for the matrix. Multiple matrices are combined, forming a multi-dimensional matrix, again holding their own algorithm and weight. Depending on how a multi-dimensional matrix is combined and the point on the multi-dimensional matrix that is inspected, the indices are obtained for the various main aspects of the process.

To dramatically reduce the number of calculations necessary the model, system and method are configured to only recalculate the cell, array value, matrix and multi-dimensional matrix that are affected by the change. It does this through inverted calculation of the outcome.

An example of a simple illustrative embodiment is as follows:

-   -   An array is originally calculated by multiplying all values in         the array with each other to render an array product:         Result_(o)=A*B*C*D*E     -   If the value of input parameter ‘E’ changes rather than         repeating the entire calculation (Result_(n)=A×B×C×D×E_(new)),         the model, method and system of the present invention would         invert the calculation (Result_(n)=(Result_(o)/E)×E_(new)). This         effectively reduces the number of operations in the calculation         from 4 to 2.     -   However, if the array would have been 100,000 cells long the         reduction in the number of operations in the calculation is very         efficient: reducing the number of operations from 99,999 to 2.

Calculating cells to arrays, arrays to matrices, matrices to multi-dimensional arrays and multi-dimensional arrays to final system indices is based on similar methods. This allows 8 to 10 (often simple) calculations to be sufficient to recalculate the influence of millions and millions of input parameters, which can be considered ‘real-time’ given the speed of modern CPUs.

An embodiment is directed to a method of enhancing a lead exchange process which includes simultaneously and in real-time calculating a quality index of a lead or plurality of leads within the lead exchange process.

The calculations are done electronically by a computer system and are based on differences to the mean, allowing for relative indices, which permit the use in a dynamic environment.

The method may include pluggable sub-processes which provide input for the calculation process.

The method is configured to process data in an incremental fashion.

The method and process retrieves input for a number of different parameters. The parameters may be grouped into categories, which include statistical data, feedback data, operational data and probability data. Each parameter has its own weight within the lead exchange process and its own basic calculation formula. Respective parameters are often built from multiple sub-parameters.

Each parameters may be organized in cells, with each cell having its own input parameter, weight and algorithm, and with each cell differing in type, weight and severity. The cells may be organized in arrays of cells, which may be organized in rows. The rows may be organized in columns, creating a matrix.

An embodiment is directed to a computerized system of enhancing a lead exchange process, the system include a calculation process which simultaneously calculates a quality index of a lead or plurality of leads within the lead exchange process, wherein the quality index provide a measure of the quality of the leads with the lead exchange process.

An embodiment is directed to a computerized system of enhancing a lead exchange process, the system in real-time calculates a quality index of a lead or plurality of leads within the lead exchange process, wherein the quality index provide a measure of the quality of the leads with the lead exchange process.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a high level overview of the process.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an illustrative embodiment of the process and the enrichment module relative to the input and output.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the system calculations and data hierarchy.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating one method of calculating an average payout.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating one method of calculating an average quality lead score.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating one method of calculating an IP check percentage.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating one method of calculating a conversion percentage.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating one method of calculating a corrected relative lead return percentage.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating one method of calculating a lead return percentage.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating one method of calculating a lead return difference.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating one method of calculating an average quality lead score difference.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating one method of calculating an average IP to state difference.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating one method of calculating a total posts difference.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating one method of calculating an average payout difference.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating one method of calculating a conversion difference.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating one method of calculating a special penalty.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating one method of calculating a quality score base.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating one method of calculating a quality published tier.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating one method of calculating a quality origin score.

FIG. 20 is a table illustrating various parameters and weights associated with one illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a table listing representative reasons for returns of leads and their associated classification.

FIG. 22 is a chart illustrating various controls, verification and check features included in an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying Figures, wherein like numerals refer to like elements throughout. The terminology used in the description presented herein is not intended to be interpreted in any limited or restrictive manner simply because it is being utilized in conjunction with a detailed description of certain specific embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention may include several novel features, no single one of which is solely responsible for its desirable attributes or which is essential to practicing the inventions herein described.

High Level Overview and Process Flow

As shown in FIG. 1, a lead exchange/enhancement platform or module 10 receives information from a lead source 12, generates and validates the lead 14 to establish a validated lead 16. The validated lead is processed 18 to establish a processed lead 20. The processed lead is sent to a delivery phase 22 which manipulates the lead into a deliverable lead 24 which can be sent as a lead target 26.

The lead exchange/enhancement platform or module 10 FIG. 1 is in communication with a network and various networked devices through which the information is received from the lead source 12. In one embodiment, the lead exchange/enhancement platform or module 10 comprises a computing device configured to perform one or more verification, validation and/or enhancement operations on a lead. In general, a lead record may be in either paper format, such as information regarding a potential customer printed on a piece of paper, or in an electronic format, such as a record in a database that may be stored, manipulated, transferred, and viewed.

In one embodiment, the lead exchange/enhancement platform or module 10 is in communication with the lead sources 12 and the lead targets 26 via a secured network, such as a local area network. In other embodiments, the lead sources 12 and the lead targets 26 may communicate with the lead exchange/enhancement platform or module 10 via an unsecured network rather than, or in addition to, the secured network. In one embodiment, the lead exchange/enhancement platform or module 10 communicates with the lead sources 12 and the lead targets 26 via an unsecured network using a secured data protocol, such as data encryption, for the data transmitted on the unsecured network. The lead sources 12 and the lead targets 26 may comprise any number of data repositories storing information regarding individuals, such as financial, credit and biographical data.

In the illustrative embodiment shown, the lead is generated through filling out an electronic form, such as, but not limited to, an Internet browser. The form may be, but is not limited to, a publishers publish appropriate form with fields for different data that is relevant for the final destination of the lead to be processed. In general, various fields, such as, but not limited to, name, address, zip code, phone number, etc. are asked on the form next to specific data pertaining to the nature of the product of interest. However, the specific data requested and completed can vary greatly. As an example, in the case of a ‘new car’ inquiry, requested data will concentrate on brand and model whereas in the case of ‘home insurance’ the focus will be on the dwelling characteristics. Once filled out, the electronic form will be sent to the lead exchange/enhancement platform or module 10 by way of a network. The platform or module 10 will validate the information in the validation module 14 to generate a validated lead 16.

The validated lead 14 is sent through the processing module 18. The processing module 18 will check the data for errors, check for fraud, perform filtering based on different parameters, validate the data, augment possible missing data (e.g. state and city when zip code is known) and attach a quality measure to the individual lead. Other processes may also be performed in the processing module 18 without departing from the scope of the invention.

If a processed lead 20 is generated, the delivery module 22 will determine what the best time is to forward the deliverable lead 24 to interested parties, buyers or lead target 26. In addition, the delivery module 22 will determine the appropriate price level of the deliverable lead 24. The delivery module 22 will also determine which of the interested parties, buyers or lead target 26 should receive the deliverable lead 24. Other processes may also be performed in the delivery module 22 without departing from the scope of the invention

The process flow the lead exchange/enhancement platform or module 10 is better shown in FIG. 2. The deliverable lead 24 can translated, mapped, reformatted and sent using the determined protocol as designated by the lead target 26. In the embodiment shown, interested lead targets 26 reply to an inquiry from the lead exchange/enhancement platform or module 10 with a bid for the deliverable lead 24. In the illustrative embodiment shown the highest bid wins the deliverable lead 24. The deliverable lead 24 is then sent to the winning lead target 26 and the sale is complete. However, other business models regarding the sale of the deliverable leads 24 may be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the winning lead target 26 or buyer contacts, as represented by 28, the original consumer 30 to transform the purchased deliverable lead 24 into a product sale, usually through phone or email contact. However, other known methods of contacting the consumer can be used.

In the embodiment shown, the publisher or original lead source 12 is compensated for the information, as represented at 32, by receiving a fixed amount or a percentage of the sale of the deliverable lead 24 which originated from the original lead source 12. However, other methods of rewarding the lead source 12 can be used.

At various time intervals, e.g. once per month, the lead targets or buyers 26 may return deliverable leads 24 where not able to processed, as represented at 34. A description of the reason for the return of such returned deliverable leads 24 accompanies the returned deliverable leads 24. The returned deliverable leads 24 are evaluated, box 36, and if possible charged against fees due to the publisher or lead source 12, box 38.

During the entire process associated with the lead exchange/enhancement platform or module 10, records are created and updated for each lead, returned lead and every sales transaction. These records allow for close monitoring of the entire process associated with the lead exchange/enhancement platform or module 10, including, but not limited to, the reporting of results and the verification of the information.

The information or data for each lead is as detailed as possible including, but not limited to, sales related data and quality indices, such as consumer session length and browser type, as will be more fully described.

As will be more fully described below, the lead records are used for the quality scoring process. The information/data in the lead records is evaluated in real-time to calculate the quality scores for an individual lead. In addition the information/data provided in the system allows for real-time evaluation of every publisher or lead source 12 and buyer or lead target 26. The quality scoring of the leads, box 40, is an integral part of the process flow of the lead exchange/enhancement platform or module 10 and serves as input for decision making associated with the system, e.g. pricing and connection selection.

System Calculations and Data Hierarchy

FIG. 3 provides an overview 100 of the various calculations and their hierarchy as used in the lead exchange/enhancement platform or module 10. For a proper understanding of the hierarchy, FIG. 3 should be read from bottom to top, and thus in numerical order from 102 to 150.

The lower level calculations serve as input for the higher level calculations until the top or quality origin score 150 (FIG. 19). The quality origin score 150 is the current real-time quality score for a unique source (publisher), sub-source, campaign and vertical combination.

As is shown in FIG. 3, square boxes with round corners depict a calculation that calculates a specific value that serves as input for a hierarchically higher calculation. Slanted boxes depict a data or meta-data collection that holds records with ‘input’ data that was either collected and stored during the lead exchange process associated with the lead exchange/enhancement platform or module 10 or was configured by operators (meta-data) of the lead exchange/enhancement platform or module 10. Boxes with arcuate edges depict data that is brought into the process from external sources, i.e. phone number to address, where a phone number is sent to an external party and (if found) the address data is returned.

The calculations are split in two distinct sets: the database direct calculations and the system calculations. This is a technical distinction, not a functional one.

The database direct calculations are generally fitted in SQL queries with grouping, using aggregator functions such as, but not limited to sum, count and average. This allows for the calculation of simple input values over a longer period of time per unique source (publisher), sub-source, campaign and vertical combination. Examples of such input values are the period number of leads (calculation 116) and period payout amount (calculation 120).

Others database direct actions are the result of a simple lookup. For example the lookup of weight and vertical (meta-data) that is used to configure and tune the calculations.

These queries are often performed outside the main process and the results are stored in tabular form as persisted electronic objects. These objects can be loaded into memory and referenced quickly during the main calculation. They are recreated (refreshed) at defined intervals that range from seconds to minutes depending on the need. For example, in one illustrative embodiment, sales details must be as real-time as possible so are recreated on a seconds interval. In contrast, configuration data is recreated every 5 minutes.

In the embodiment shown, given that the quality lead score calculation is based on a longer period (e.g. 40 days), shorter calculation intervals are not necessary since increase of decline in score will be gradual due to the history effect. In addition, the quality lead score is not published until a certain threshold of processed leads is reached (e.g. 25) for a unique source (publisher), sub-source, campaign and vertical combination. Below the threshold there is no statistical significance.

In FIG. 3, dotted lines are used to indicate input from direct databases and the like which is used as input to enable the respective calculations to which they used. The calculations are individually described more fully below. A solid line indicates that the results of the calculations are used as input for further calculations.

Description of the Calculation Flow FIGS. 4 Through 18.

As stated earlier the calculations should be viewed bottom to top. The description is starting at the right bottom.

External data is collected or generated as a result of a request to an external service or lead source 12 and stored in the database with the lead. The request may be, but are not limited to Internet based HTTP GET or POST request. The information gather from the lead source 12 may include, but not limited to, address validation, email validation and check, phone to address, phone connection status, IP address to State, etc.

Other data stored with the lead may be collected through the processing of the form itself and from information gathered during the forms code execution. This data is usually referred to as operational data and consists of, but is not limited to, session length, time of day and time zone, number of altered defaults on the form, etc. Also the specific data for the vertical, as obtained from the fill-out data on the form, is stored with the lead. This is a wide array of data and could include, but is not limited to, age, income, housing situation, etc.

Based on the above lead data the lead quality score is calculated. The lead quality score is a value between 0 and 100, where 0 is very bad and 100 is excellent. The scores calculation is not part of this document but is rather straightforward and is known in the industry. For every input data point a score is added or subtracted to a total based on averages that are known in the system for a certain data point.

The final result of the calculation is the quality lead score 200 for an individual lead. This quality lead score 200 is stored with the lead and is an important input parameter to the remainder of the calculations.

On the bottom left of FIG. 3 lead returns 202 are collected. In one illustrative embodiment, the returns are uploaded in batches to the system 100 on a per buyer or lead target 26 basis. This is done for a distinct period, usually a month. The system next calculates per unique source (publisher), sub-source, campaign and vertical combination the turnover (sales value) for the period belonging to the lead returns and the value of the leads returned 102, 104, 106, 108. Also return percentages are calculated based on the sell and return amounts 130 (FIG. 9) (not on the number of leads).

This is done both for the unique source (publisher), sub-source, campaign and vertical combination and for each publisher or lead source 102 as a whole. This to prevent unique source (publisher), sub-source, campaign and vertical combinations with very small amount of leads in the period to be valued too high or too low. When the amount is too small the publisher as a whole value is taken 110, 112.

In addition, a correction calculation 128 (FIG. 8) is made based on the relative lead return percentage due to buyer behavior. As an example, assume that a first lead target or buyer 26 returns 30% of its leads and a second lead target or buyer 26 returns 10%. If a publisher or lead source 12 is only connected to the first second lead target or buyer 26 its lead return percentage would be higher than if the publisher or lead source 12 is connected to would have been connected to the second lead target or buyer 26. For this reason a correction value is calculated 128 (FIG. 8) that compensates for the lead target or buyer differences. As the publisher or lead source 12 leads go to a wide mix of targets or buyers 26, the relative correction is an integral and important step in the calculation. As shown in FIG. 3, the correction calculation 128 are correlated with the reason mapping 202 to ensure that the correction calculation 128 honors or includes only valid lead returns and dismisses or does not include invalid lead returns.

Using the information, calculations and output described above for the lead returns, the system 100 calculates the lead return percentage 130 (FIG. 9) per unique source (publisher), sub-source, campaign and vertical combination.

Using defined period lead 204 details, as stored in the system 100, the next calculations/aggregations are performed per unique source (publisher), sub-source, campaign and vertical combination. These calculations include the average quality lead score 124 (FIG. 5) and the period IP to state correctness percentage 126 (FIG. 6).

Using the defined period sales 206 details, as stored in the system 100, the next calculations/aggregations are performed per unique source (publisher), sub-source, campaign and vertical combination. These calculations include the period number of success posts (sale) 118, the period payout 120, the period last seen days 114 and the period number of leads 116.

Calculation 118 and calculation 118 render the input necessary to calculate the period average payout 122 (FIG. 4).

Calculation 118, Calculation 114 and Calculation 116 render the input necessary to calculate the period conversion percentage 127 (FIG. 7).

The results of above described calculations 130, 124, 126, 118, 122, 120 and 127 are intermediate results that are calculated per unique source (publisher), sub-source, campaign and vertical combination and serve as input to the main elements for calculation of the base quality origin score 146.

By taking the configured weight data for the main elements and vertical specific data that was calculated, e.g. the average return rate for the vertical, the average payout for the vertical, etc., the main elements calculate the difference to the mean and multiply it with the weight. This gives a final value between (−weight)<value<(+weight). So if the weight of a main element is e.g. 15 the value ranges between −15 and +15.

The main elements are calculated through calculations 132 (FIG. 10), 134 (FIG. 11), 136 (FIG. 12), 138 (FIG. 13), 140 (FIG. 14) and 142 (FIG. 15).

The weight of all main elements added is 100 so a quality origin score base 146 can range from −100 (very bad) to +100 (excellent).

In addition, in various embodiments, a special penalty 144 (FIG. 16) may be applied. The special penalty 144 can be configured to reward certain traffic sources on their configured nature and to penalize or demote others. This is dependent on the type configuration of the publisher or lead source that is determined through configuration and by human business logic. The special penalty 144 also applies if some calculation results are substantially out of average, thereby signaling an early fraud warning.

The quality origin score base 146 (FIG. 17) is calculated by adding the scores of the individual main elements 132, 134, 136, 138, 140 and 142 and the special penalty 144.

To broaden the possible range (in live situations the quality origin score base is between −80% and +70%) to the maximum achievable range (−100 to +100) a multiplication is done, as shown in FIG. 19. To get the number into a humanly understandable range, +100 is added followed by a division by 2. This results in obtaining the final quality origin score 150 per unique source (publisher), sub-source, campaign and vertical combination. Its value ranges from 0 to 100.

Additionally, quality origin score 148 (FIG. 18) may be obtained using the quality origin score 150 and tier threshold data 208 to attach labels to ranges (e.g. Platinum, Gold, Silver, etc.). This allows for even quicker quality perception by humans and allows for easier configuration of the lead exchange main process 100 (i.e. ‘send only Gold and Platinum sources to that Buyer’).

The above is a continuous and real-time process.

As previously stated, the scoring system and method enhancing a lead exchange is configured to improve the quality of the leads generate and sold to buyers or lead targets 26. The system and method provides insight in the performance of the lead sources or publisher's sources and sub sources. This allows fraud be detected fast, thereby escalating bad performing sources. In addition, accounts with the publishers or sources can be optimized.

The system and method also protects buyers or lead targets 26 from rogue leads as the rogue leads are filtered out. The system and method also determines which leads fit well with particular buyers or lead targets 26. Understanding the quality of the leads generated and sold makes it possible to influence the performance of the leads that each buyer or lead target purchases, which should reduce lead returns and optimize performance.

The system and method also rewards good buyers or lead targets, as the buyers or lead targets that are performing well can be rewarded with better leads.

In one embodiment three different elements are included in the system: the quality of a publisher or lead source (and sub-source), used to influence its margin, the quality publisher tier selection and possible shutdown of a source; the quality of a buyer, used to influence its payout quality in the bid process, daily cap and the position in the tier chain; and the quality of an individual lead, used for price prediction, sell ability and buyer tier selection.

The system scoring mechanism is a relative scoring system, whereby all scorings are meaningful when they are compared to each other. Stated differently, all sources, buyers and leads are scored between −100% till 100%. Each feature either penalizes or rewards the overall system score. Based on the settings in the system per feature (which often will be set at the average), the scoring can be impacted or tweaked, thereby making it easy to change the scoring system to the desired model.

In various embodiments, the parameters and variables of the system are changeable per vertical (for example, but not limited to, auto insurance, health insurance, etc.) and/or per publisher source type (for example, but not limited to, lead, mobile, call center, etc.).

Due to the nature of the data and their timely availability, the system score is generated in part prior to selling the lead and in part after the lead is sold.

The system includes various controls, verification and check features which are summarized and explained below with reference to the chart 300 of FIG. 22 and the example shown in the table 302 of FIG. 20. While FIG. 20 depicts one example, each of the features or parameters can have a different weight, which results in a system scoring percentage.

Data verification will performed to check on accuracy and matching of contact information. The system always receives a data verification score on each lead. This score will be used as one of the drivers to score the contact information provided by the end user.

An IP check will be performed to determine for each lead if the state matches based on the IP address with what the user has claimed is the state in which he or she lives. This scoring feature has a an impact on monitoring fraudulent leads and sources. Mobile and call center sources are scored differently as they cannot meet this criteria.

The higher volume of total leads impacts the scoring. In addition, the higher the average payout, the higher the demand for these type of leads, which is rewarded within the scoring.

The acceptance rate, as shown in FIG. 20, is the percentage of leads sold divided by offer to buyers (for example—100 offered leads to at least 1 buyer with 80 sold leads is a 80% acceptance rate). The dupe filter is the percentage of leads that are signing up multiple times for the same vertical with a set day range. In the example shown the filter is set to one day. The data verification score too low is the percentage of low data verification scores which show a low intent because bad or fake data is entered. With this information it is easy to measure if users are being incentivized to request a quote.

The conversion is calculated as follows: acceptance rate percentage×(100 percent−Dupe filter percentage)×(100 percent−data verification score too low percentage). This number indicates the sell ability of a lead to the buyer or lead target and indicates the strength of the lead or lead source.

Lead returns are classified as feedback and differ from statistical information. Returns and performance data are in most cases not available in real-time. This means that when lead returns are updated every week or month, this data is updated. Since lead returns are always calculated afterwards, in contrast to data verification score and conversion which are calculated in real-time, a quickly improving or quickly degrading publisher or lead source could be too heavily penalized based on a historic lead return percentage. The system has been designed to take this into account.

The reasons for lead returns are evaluated for both the impact on buyers or lead targets and publishers or lead sources. For buyers the system honors valid reasons for returns (if needed checked via a call center) and penalize invalid reasons for returns. For publishers we honor invalid reasons for returns (if needed checked via a call center) and penalize valid reasons for returns. This has a direct impact on the lead return percentage influence within the calculation.

Because lead return data does not always have valid returns, we first of all distinguish the following categories: valid reasons, neutral reasons and invalid reasons. Valid reasons have a much higher weight than neutral or invalid reasons. The table 304 of FIG. 21 provides a listing of representative reasons for return and their associated classification of reasons, which includes valid, neural or invalid.

If provided and activated in a particular embodiment, the plug-in call verification impacts the system score as well. This plug-in will call-verify a certain percentage of leads and is able to measure if the user picked up the phone and stated he or she is interested in receiving a quote. However, in most cases this plug-in will not be activated for the lead source or lead target, and thus will have smaller impact.

Referring now to the operational parameters shown in FIG. 21, the session length refers to the length of time from when a user accesses the form until the form is submitted with the information. The higher the session length, the higher the intent of the user to answer all questions as accurate as possible. Very short session lengths may by indicative of fraud activity.

Certain campaigns and publishers will use the click listing products for extra monetization. If click listings are loaded on for example the end page and the user has a high click through percentage on these listing, the intent of the user is much higher than when users are clicking less.

There are several external lead verification scripts available. When used, the external lead verification scripts can provide insight as to how a lead was generated, thereby providing additional information.

Users are often presented with campaigns that have defaulted values for certain questions. By changing these values, it tends to show users have a higher intent than keeping the defaulted values for these questions and only answering the required questions.

In many instances, the time of the day has an impact on lead quality performance as well. User that are requesting a quote at 4:00 AM in the morning might be less interested than users that request a quote at 12:00 PM. In addition, the performance might also be lower due to later follow up because of the time.

If possible, the address data and phone characteristics are collected based on the user's phone number. This data can be used for verification and possibly ‘pro-populating’ the users request form. The system alters the weight factor on some other parameters if pre-populated information is used.

Referring now to the probability parameters shown in FIG. 21, one component of probability entails predicting performance based on historic data. There are certain trends, which seem to have an impact not only on pricing, acceptance rate, but also performance, such as, but not limited to: age, state/zip code, income, housing situation and request data quality (e.g. make).

It is possible to deduce a lead scoring, meaning manually influence the scoring based on further feedback or predicted performance based on how a campaign will be promoted. This can be done with respect to lead, origin or buyer.

With targets or buyers this is acceptable because their behavior is more predictable and usually only changes over weeks/months. With sources (publishers) the influence of historic behavior is softened because the nature of their traffic changes fairly rapidly.

The parameters and their attached weight factors will be used for multiple calculations, including, but not limited to: quality of an individual leads, used for price prediction, sell ability and buyer tier selection; quality of a media partner source or lead source (and sub-source), used to influence its margin, the buyer tier selection and possible shutdown of a source; quality of a buyer or lead target, used to influence its payout quality in the bid process, daily cap and the position in the tier chain.

The system score has an impact on the lead distribution to buyers or targets.

Publishers or lead sources are assigned a certain tier based on their performance. This tier will determine the buyer mix of all or parts of its leads. Automatic and temporary blocks might be put in place based on this performance. The system will treat call center and mobile sources differently.

Buyers or targets are also placed within a tier, based on their performance.

The system scoring has an impact on certain requests for quotes (leads). The leads may be completely or partially filtered out based on the scoring. It is therefore possible users never receive a quote.

The system and method of enhancing the lead exchange process simultaneously and in real-time calculates a quality index of a lead or plurality of leads within the lead exchange process. The quality index provide a measure of the quality of the leads with the lead exchange process. The calculations are done electronically by a computer system and are based on differences to the mean, allowing for relative indices, which permit the use in a dynamic environment.

The system and method may include pluggable sub-processes which provide input for the calculation process. The method is configured to process data in an incremental fashion.

The system and method retrieves input for a number of different parameters. The parameters may be grouped into categories, which include statistical data, feedback data, operational data and probability data. Each parameter has its own weight within the lead exchange process and its own basic calculation formula. At least one parameter is built from multiple sub-parameters.

Each parameters may be organized in cells, with each cell having its own input parameter, weight and algorithm, and with each cell differing in type, weight and severity. The cells may be organized in arrays of cells, which may be organized in rows. The rows may be organized in columns, creating a matrix.

While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. 

We claim:
 1. A method of enhancing a lead exchange process, the method comprising: simultaneously and in real-time calculating a quality index of a lead or plurality of leads within the lead exchange process.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the calculations are done electronically by a computer system.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the calculations are based on differences to the mean, allowing for relative indices, which permit the use in a dynamic environment.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein pluggable sub-processes are used to provide input for the calculation process.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the lead exchange process retrieves input for a number of different parameters.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the parameters are grouped into categories, which include statistical data, feedback data, operational data and probability data.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein each parameter has its own weight within the lead exchange process and its own basic calculation formula.
 8. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one parameter is built from multiple sub-parameters.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the lead exchange process is configured to process data in an incremental fashion.
 10. The method of claim 5, wherein the parameters are organized in cells, with each cell having its own input parameter, weight and algorithm, and with each cell differing in type, weight and severity.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the cells are organized in arrays of cells.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the arrays of cells are organized in rows.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the rows are organized in columns, creating a matrix.
 14. A computerized system of enhancing a lead exchange process, the system include a calculation process which simultaneously calculates a quality index of a lead or plurality of leads within the lead exchange process, wherein the quality index provide a measure of the quality of the leads with the lead exchange process.
 15. The computerized system of claim 14, wherein the calculations are based on differences to the mean, allowing for relative indices, which permit the use in a dynamic environment.
 16. The computerized system of claim 14, wherein pluggable sub-processes are used to provide input for the calculation process.
 17. The computerized system of claim 14, wherein the lead exchange process retrieves input for a number of different parameters which are grouped into categories, which include statistical data, feedback data, operational data and probability data.
 18. The computerized system of claim 17, wherein the parameters are organized in cells, with each cell having its own input parameter, weight and algorithm, and with each cell differing in type, weight and severity.
 19. A computerized system of enhancing a lead exchange process, the system in real-time calculates a quality index of a lead or plurality of leads within the lead exchange process, wherein the quality index provide a measure of the quality of the leads with the lead exchange process.
 20. The computerized system of claim 19, wherein the lead exchange process retrieves input for a number of different parameters which are organized in cells, with each cell having its own input parameter, weight and algorithm, and with each cell differing in type, weight and severity. 